Heather Mitchell: Aarhus University, Denmark

Danish culture is about one thing. Beer. Carlsberg and Tuborg, mainly, but with many variations. Tuborg for example, comes in many forms. Tuborg Grøn, Tuborg Classic, Tuborg Hvid, Tuborg Blå, Tubord Rød... and thats just your everyday, run-of-the-mill variety. The Danish take their beers so seriously, they have special types released for EVERY brand of Danish Beer for Easter and Christmas. And theres probably other holidays I haven't been told about yet. The important thing, though, is that there is a whole different attidude towards beer. You can buy beer ANYWHERE - the supermarkets, sure, but also the kiosks, hot-dog stands, cafes, UNIVERSITY CAFETERIAS... The Danish approach beer like the French approach wine. It is to be savoured, enjoyed, and appreciated. For the most part, they drink slowly and sensibly. So dont think this is a country full of drunks.

There is only one other thing i would put on par with beer in the Danish lifestyle. 'Hyggelig'. Hyggelig is a danish word that means... well, there isn't really an equivalent word in english - the closest thing we have is 'cosy'. But that doesn't really cover it. Hygge is a way to describe a place or a situation or a feeling or a vibe. It can cover anything from a snuggling in to watch a video while the snow piles up outside your window, to barbequing outside with good friends on a summers evening, to clubbing with the Beautiful People. Another way to put it is: I have never seen so many tea candles IN MY LIFE. Anything with enjoyment and warmth (not the physical kind) is the makings of hyggelig. They honestly cant get enough.

I think these two things alone are an indication of the Danish mentality. They are very social people, but understand the value of privacy and intimacy. And they LOVE foreigners. Although you sometimes have to break the ice, they are well worth it. Wonderfully... well, hyggelig.

Here are some random things about living in Denmark:
The Hot Dog is alive and well. There are Hot Dogs stands everywhere - and I dont mean portable, wheely ones. Permanant ones, with regulars. And the toppings... They have some dressings here unique only to Denmark. Delicious. You can get a pizza slice the length of your forearm for about 20 kr - perfect for
a snack. Or a meal. And sometimes a meal for two people.

Fest means party. You'll see it around a lot.

Fredagsbars means Friday bars. They start at 2 on a friday afternoon, when most people finish class, and some carry on until early in the morning. Cheap beer in a relaxed - but - energised environment.

Fashion gets taken fairly seriously here (well, it is Europe). On first arriving here, you may feel... well, a little undergroomed. Tanning salons are everywhere, it usually costs a small fortune if a hairdresser even TOUCHES your hair, and clothes are all In The Now. This does not just apply to girls, gentlemen - the
guys are making hair appointments for streaks or frosting, and using fake tanner or solariums just as much as the ladies. Thankfully, there are SOME cheaper places to shop, and once you've been here awhile you'll realise that the 'professionally good-looking' people do not make up the entirety of the population. So its bonus points for Denmark - you can go to class in jeans and a t-shirt, and spend the whole two hours perving on the people who look like they fell out of a magazine. Everybody wins!

Bikes are a massive part of being Danish. Why does everybody have such nice behinds? Because they cycle everywhere. Here there are special bike roads running alongside the roads, as well as pavements, but even when you have to ride on the actual roads its quite safe. Personally, I wouldn't ride on the road in Australia, even though the rules are the same (i.e. bikes obey the same rules as cars and motorbikes). Because in Australia, its not a common thing. People generally ride on the footpath, if at all. Whereas here, where there are more bikes than cars, drivers expect for there to be riders appearing out of nowhere, and factor it into their driving. Also, nobody (medical students and parents of young children excepted) wears helmets, either. And short skirts are common riding gear, as are thongs. Not quite what you'd see in Oz, but quite easy to
adjust to.

There are more pigs than people in Denmark. Pork is cheap.

Tuborg is working class, Carlsberg is upper class. Yet theres not really a price difference...

Remember that you're not going to be shopping the same way here that you do at home. Things are cheaper, but a LOT of things are more expensive. They sell some weird stuff here, too, like dried fried onions for hot dogs and smørrebrod (traditional danish open sandwiches on dark bread). And the selection of asian foods and sauces is much more limited and generally more expensive.
In the winter, there are only about three, maybe four hours of 'light' in a day. 'Light', because we're not talking sun. You wont necessarily see that. In the summer, however, its GORGEOUS sun. For about 18 hours a day. Getting out of a club and walking into sunshine is a bemusing experience.

The changing of the seasons are a bigger deal in Denmark than in Australia, where we kinda have a summer thats hot and the rest of the year that could go any way (in most parts, anyway) Here, the summer is a godsend, because winter is bloody freezing. It has been getting warmer every year for awhile now, but
even so, unless you're from Victoria you're gonna be freezing in winter. There is, of course, snow, but its more the biting wind that gets you.
The Danes have (obviously) more tradition that Australians have. Think about the fact that they were establishing trade routes/ raping and pillaging (who can REALLY believe the british, anyway?) 600 or 800 years before Australia was even discovered... Their traditions have a lot of history behind them, but the Danes
find new ways to re-enervate the celebrations every year. Its also cool that people our age can trace their ancestors back to ancient nobility.

People generally go to uni a lot later in Denmark than in Australia. A lot of students are in their late 20s, sometimes their thirties. People generally finish high school when they're 19, but sometimes at 20 or even 21. Age is viewed very differently here, and people dont all seem to be in such a rush.

That being said, there are babies EVERYWHERE.

Most importantly, the best travel tip in the world: stock up on undies before you leave. That goes for wherever you go.

Heather Mitchell